BUT here’s the thing: he’s not easy to read—at least not at first. Remember that good physical nutrition presupposes “good chewing” to ensure good digestion. Good intellectual nutrition thus also presupposes “good chewing” to ensure good digestion. Chesterton’s words are like steak, not pudding. Hard work will make your head work, and reading Chesterton is hard head work. Hard work in a Culture Of Convenience might seem inconvenient, but adventuring with Chesterton is worth the rigour. As Chesterton himself says:“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” (from “On Running After Ones Hat”)
The G.K. Chesterton Collection (50 books) can be found here for $1.99.
The Everlasting Man can be found here for $4.99.
Chesterton quotations can be found here.
A brief Chesterton biography can be found here.
But even though Chesterton is no longer taught in schools, you cannot consider yourself educated until you have thoroughly read Chesterton. And furthermore, thoroughly reading Chesterton is almost a complete education in itself. Chesterton is indeed a teacher, and the best kind. He doesn’t merely astonish you. He doesn’t just perform the wonder of making you think. He goes beyond that. He makes you laugh.
I'm diving in. If I'm not back by Christmas, send in the St. Bernard.
I'm hoping this collection isn't too far over my head. If it is, I'll take it slowly, and expand my knowledge and critical thinking skills along the way. Or perhaps I'll drown trying. Either way, here I go.
ReplyDeleteI need brain food.
I have the Chesterton Collected Works. It's in the "To Read" bookcase along with about 150 other titles waiting for me. I have a method to my madness, I'm working my way through recommended books, first through the library and then what I have purchased (I have three more coming from Amazon as I type). I use the Nancy Pearl rule of thumb - subtract your age from 100; if the book hasn't captured your interest by then, go on to the next one. I realize I'm at that stage where I better just read what I enjoy. I read about 50 pages of Heart of Darkness this last weekend but it was too depressing so I am on to the next library book (Rodney Dangerfield bio). Let me know how you like Chesterton, lady red.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'll let you know. Gosh, you have a marvelous bookcase of goodness waiting for you florrie! I'll bet you smile every time you look at the spines.
DeleteBooks. Books. Books. :) :) :)
"I'll bet you smile every time you look at the spines."
ReplyDeleteIt makes me nervous that I'm reading so slowly. But it also makes me feel wealthy, the overflow is in my little den. I posted a picture but it broke the comment parameters so I'll post it as a link.
I must confess that the only G.K. Chesterton that I have read are his Father Brown mysteries. But I absolutely love them - he's just a master at depicting the realities of human nature. Now I'm going to have to pull them out and have a re-read!
ReplyDeleteI thought 50 books for $1.99 was a typo - until I saw it requires a Kindle. Sigh
ReplyDeleteDWT, the kindle app is free! You can read these on your tablet or PC, no problem. :)
DeleteI'm currently reading The Everlasting Man and loving it. I thought it might be a slog (think Mill or Locke) but it's not; his words are a joy and a triumph.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe this book was was published in the 1920s; everything in it holds true still (at least so far. I'm about a quarter of the way through).